Anyone who has ever spent any time with Stars defenseman Trevor Daley knows he is always there to lend a helping hand. Recently, thanks to a little legwork, the Lewisville I.S.D. Special Olympics Delegation has been given a generous donation of $10,000 by the SOFTASK (Special Organization Founded to Aid Special Kids) charity.
 
The Lewisville I.S.D. Special Olympics (www.lisdso.org) was established in 1983 and is currently providing year-round special athlete sports training for areas in and around Lewisville. Stars Head Athletic Trainer Dave Surprenant’s sons, AJ and Bryan, are two current LISDSO athletes.
 
“I have been involved with Lewisville I.S.D. Special Olympics for about three years since my boys have been competing,” Surprenant said. “It’s neat to see them able to compete and have good life experiences that they normally would not have been exposed to. They have to meet challenges, meet friends, and it gives them a way to stay active.”
 
After spending this summer in rehabilitation from shoulder surgery, Daley had some time to be around and to get to know AJ and Bryan.
 
“They are great kids. Anytime you’ve got kids like that, you really want to do something to put a smile on their face,” Daley said. “I just had the opportunity.”
 
One day Daley mentioned that he would soon be co-chairing a golf tournament sponsored by SOFTASK that raises money for special needs children. After hearing about the Surprenant boys’ participation in the Lewisville I.S.D. Special Olympics, Daley passed the word along to SOFTASK board member Dick Kornman. Kornman had met Daley a couple years prior on the golf course.
 
“Trevor was playing golf with a friend of mine, and I¹m a huge hockey nut,” Kornman said. “He invited me to come over and play, and we hit it off.”
 
Dick Kornman has been a strong supporter of special needs charities for 22 years. “Special Olympics is the main reason we exist,” Kornman said. “Most parents can¹t afford to send their kids there, and we want to help them.”
 
Kornman urged the board to lend their support to the Lewisville I.S.D. Special Olympics Delegation. Soon after the annual tournament, which is held the first week after Labor Day, SOFTASK granted the delegation $10,000. On November 13th Dick Kornman and Joe True, the president of SOFTASK, formally presented a check to Trevor Daley and Dave Surprenant made out to the Lewisville I.S.D. Special Olympics Delegation. This money helps cover the cost of uniforms, equipment, transportation, meals, and housing for area and state games, and benefits the athletes of the delegation 100 percent.
 
The families are very grateful to SOFTASK for its donation. Daley chose the charity because of its long tradition of giving to children.
 
“Every charity has their benefits of course, but this one is great because it gives to children with special needs,” Daley said. “I was just fortunate enough to give back, and to give a little myself.”
 
This all goes to show how one player¹s care can affect peoples’ lives in a positive way. For a player like Trevor Daley, it’s all in a day’s work.
 
SOFTASK’s annual golf tournament has been running for 21 years and has raised nearly one million dollars for children. Every bit of that money has been spread out among groups of all types helping special needs children.

Next year on the first weekend after Labor Day, SOFTASK will once again raise money for the kids. For more information, contact Craig Ingram at cingram@assetbasedintermodal.com or Joe True at joe.true@pacer.com.